Samsung unveils GALAXY S II for AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile [updated]

During a press event in New York City on Tuesday, Samsung officially took the wraps off of its U.S. GALAXY S II smartphone family. Sprint’s Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch will support the carrier’s 4G WiMAX network while the T-Mobile and AT&T devices will run on each carrier’s respective HSPA+ network. Each iteration of the GALAXY S II smartphone is equipped with a 4.52-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 16GB of storage, an 8-megapixel camera capable of recording 1080p video, and a 2-megapixel forward-facing camera for video chats. T-Mobile and Sprint’s GALAXY S II phones offer more rounded cases while AT&T’s maintains the sharper edges of the European GALAXY S II. AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile expect to launch the GALAXY S II this fall, although pricing details were not revealed. We’re here at the event live so stay tuned for hands-on reports for each device. Read on for the full press release.

Samsung’s fastest selling smartphone in the world coming soon to AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile

DALLAS, August 29, 2011 — Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile)1, the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S., today announced the Galaxy S™ II will be available with AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile starting this fall. The U.S. launch follows the successful debut of the Galaxy S II in Europe and Korea, where consumers bought 5 million smartphones in 85 days, making the device Samsung’s fastest selling smartphone ever. The next generation Galaxy S II portfolio packs industry-leading hardware and software and the latest version of the Android smartphone platform into each device. The Galaxy S II portfolio is highlighted by Samsung’s own Super AMOLED Plus display technology, a powerful dual core application processor and a robust array of entertainment, messaging, social networking and enterprise experiences.

“The unveiling of the Galaxy S II is a landmark achievement for Samsung, our carrier customers and consumers,” said Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Mobile. “Five million Galaxy S II smartphones have been sold around the world and that number increases every day. We believe the cutting-edge design, features and user experience of this innovative device will share the same level of success in the U.S.”

The three smartphones within the Samsung Galaxy S II portfolio are designed with an ultra-thin form factor and brilliant Super AMOLED Plus touch screen display. Recent independent studies showed that Samsung’s Super AMOLED Plus display technology was preferred 2 to 1 over any competing display technology in the market today2, thanks to touchscreen’s ability to deliver brilliant colors with the most contrast, providing a vivid and crisp viewing experience.

All three Galaxy S II smartphones are enabled with 4G3 service for fast connectivity speeds and dual core processors for seamless web surfing, console-like game play and rapid content downloads.

Personalized Customization

The Galaxy S II portfolio features an improved Samsung TouchWiz user interface, providing superior multi-tasking, application management, and customization and includes Live Panel which provides a magazine-like widget view for immediate access to weather, social updates, email, news, photo gallery and more, all of which can be customized on the home screen. All of the Samsung Live Panel widgets can be positioned and re-sized to create rich, visual home screens and provide one-touch access to the information consumers use most. Touchwiz UI also includes Quick Panel which allows instant access to commonly used device settings like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and other key device features. The TouchWiz UI notification service on the lock screen notifies users to the number of unread or new text messages, and missed calls that have been sent to you on your Galaxy S II. Users get direct access to missed calls and text messages from the lock screen by swiping the notification boxes without having to navigate through the applications menu.

Each of the Galaxy S II devices feature six-axis motion sensing using an accelerometer and gyroscope that support advanced touch screen gestures, including motion to zoom in on images, silence a ringing phone, and even move widgets on the menu screens.

Premium Content

Galaxy S II will also include Samsung’s popular Media Hub movie and TV content service. Media Hub features thousands of new release and top-grossing titles from major Hollywood studios and leading television networks, including NBC Universal, Paramount, MTV, Warner Bros., CBS and FOX. The content service has added a new feature called Media Hub Show, allowing the user to playback Media Hub content on a TV through an HDMI cable connected to a Galaxy S II dock or HDTV Smart adapter accessory. Users can share purchased to own film or TV content across up to five devices enabled with Media Hub at no additional cost. Alternate premium video options include Android Movies, Netflix, and others which are available to download from Android Market™.

Samsung’s Social Hub service on the Galaxy S II transfers email, instant messaging, contacts, calendar and social network connections, including Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts, into “Feeds” and “Messages” folders that can be either separated into separate tabs or combined into comprehensive lists.

Samsung’s Galaxy S II portfolio is powered by the open and innovative Android Gingerbread platform, complete with full support of Google Mobile Services including Android MarketÔ with access to more than 250,000 applications, Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Google Talk and more.

The Galaxy S II portfolio offers a number of convergence features to share content in tethered and wireless formats. With Samsung’s All Share application, which enables inter-device connectivity through DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) technology, users can send user-generated video content wirelessly to other DLNA-enabled devices, such as TV’s, monitors and laptops, allowing for an interactive entertainment experience. The TV Remote App, also available through Android Market, transforms the Galaxy S II into a remote control for several top models of Samsung HDTVs. Smart Show and Media Hub Show enables the user to tether an HDMI over micro USB connection to an HDTV to play user generated or Media Hub DRM protected content respectively directly from the Galaxy S II device to the HDTV screen. Samsung Kies Air service allows users to connect their PC or Mac via WiFi without a preloaded application to easily view and manage your content. Users can transfer files, manage contacts and messages and send SMS from the PC.

Optimal Enterprise Solutions

Galaxy S II integrates a range of enterprise solutions that expand the business capabilities of the devices. The Galaxy S II portfolio provides support for exchange device management policies, offers increased security of data and services and enables mobile conferencing while on the go. Galaxy S II also features productivity enhancement capabilities such as the ability to create and respond to meeting requests, view, edit, and create Microsoft®-compatible documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, global address lookup (GAL), and more.

Task Manager: View and close the applications users have active, what items have been downloaded and check on memory usage via the Task Manager widget.

Screen Capture Feature: Users can easily take a screen grab of the phone screen by pressing the power button and the home key simultaneously.

Memory: All three Galaxy S II devices offer 16GB of on-board memory, as well as a microSD card slot that supports up to a 32GB memory card.

Premium Accessories Portfolio

A host of premium Galaxy S II accessories, including convenient solutions for docking, convergence, and backup battery charging will be available for each smartphone, providing users with an enhanced mobile experience. A multimedia dock is the perfect smart accessory, allowing users to transform their Galaxy S II into a home stereo by connecting speakers or plugging it into a home entertainment system via the 3.5mm stereo connector. Its ability to orient with the phone while docked makes it easy to view content in portrait and landscape mode, while the auto-launch of its Desk Dock UI makes for easy access to music, video and other applications.

Additional accessory solutions include:

Vehicle dock: The dock charges the phone while docked to ensure uninterrupted GPS usage on long car rides. The dock is windshield or dashboard mountable and includes the sophisticated Vlingo Voice Talk, allowing users to enjoy hands-free control of their Galaxy S II.

Battery charging stand with spare battery: This charging solution ensures a backup battery is always on hand, while providing a convenient kick stand for the Galaxy S II.

HDTV Adapter: The HDMI adapter supports HD video up to 1080p from the phone to an HDTV, projector, or monitor. Use on the go to connect the Galaxy S II to a TV, monitor, or projector to view purchased Media Hub content, videos, presentations, games, or internet on a big HD screen, or listen to downloaded music from the phone on a home entertainment system.

I’ve had an iPhone for 3 years now and seriously thinking about getting one of these babies. Any long-time iPhone users who’ve switched to android who can give me advice as to why I should/should not make the switch?
Thanks for your help.

http://twitter.com/adamjayreid Adam Reid

I tried the Galaxy Tab Wi-Fi and found the experience excruciating. Among my problems were:
-Wi-Fi problems
-Frustration with app incompatibilities
-Google Chat would never log out
-Poor Flash performance
-Using the things I got it for (live wallpapers, widgets) absolutely killed battery life
-TouchWiz was crap

Truth be told, you won’t have any of these problems. Every app will be compatible since its a phone, the Wi-Fi problems were due to the faulty hardware, the Flash performance was due to a earlier build/crappy hardware, TouchWiz 3.0 is supposedly vastly improved, etc. My only advice would be to wait for reviews, then buy. I bought on launch day then word of the problems came out later. Save yourself time and frustration and wait.

Anonymous

I came back to the iPhone after owning a few different models on Verizon.

Anonymous

Don’t sell your iPhone. Just in case.

Drybones5

There really isn’t a phone that matches the Galaxy S II, including the AT&T version.

dwinsmith

I’ve had nearly every flagship Android phone and I always end up back with an iPhone. It’s the little things that really matter and the iPhone just gets them right more often.

Scott

I had an iPhone for 2+ years and now a Nexus One (plus I’ve tried many others) for nearly a year. It’s a different learning curve (there are setting for everything, which can be a plus and a minus). The hardware selection makes it more fun. I’m actually thinking about switching back, and it’s mostly due to the apps. And I don’t even use any crazy apps. Just Facebook for instance, it blows chunks on Android and it’s far better on iPhone. And I feel nearly every app I commonly use that’s on both OSes are that way. It will probably be the one thing that brings me back, IF iPhone 5 is a decent hardware upgrade.

Anonymous

Been an iphone user for 4 years…I had to sell my iphone 4 due to personal reasons and i was lucky enough that one of my family members were due an upgrade and i decided to go with the galaxy s2. Now going from iphone to android was a big step for me. Took me a while to get use to android but i will be honest i have never looked back. The galaxy s2 i do recommend getting it. I will give you a few pointers though that i hope helps. Touchwiz launcher you can get rid of that by using different launchers like GO launcher or Launcher Pro. They are free and you can get them off android market. Wifi signals are pretty strong on this bad boy so you will not have any problems. Using the internet on the phone is pure heaven and flash works like a charm. The only thing that i feel lets down android is the quality of apps but they are getting there so thats not a big issue as much of the main apps that you have on IOS you can get now on android.

Hope my pointers helped you out.

Jasonharris42

not to upset now that verizon is getting the droid/nexus prime.

KellyJa

It took so long to release the S II, that I will hold off a month and get the Nexus Prime. Goodbye Sprint, Hello Verizon.

http://JonaSyon.com Jona Sy

I seriously doubt the Nexus Prime is significantly better as to justify spending more money to be on the Verizon network, but to each his own.

Farewell

Anonymous

The one thing that is so simple yet so freaking effective and should be on EVERY phone is missing here it seems.

A damn freaking notification LED. is that so hard to do?

http://twitter.com/_elemenopee_ Kavin Nguyen

One of the things I like best about the LG G2x is the ability to use the capacitive touch buttons in the bottom as the notification LED. It’s way cooler and you can program the pulse rate. If we could do something like that for the GS2, then it would be much better than a single LED light.

Anonymous

That’s a hack job. It’s also available on Galaxy S 1 line.

LED is still better IMO. less power consumption and brighter. I couldn’t see the capacitive buttons light up at all on my captivate.

BLN (Back Light Notification) was the hack.

Jay

You can. Any no of bln roms now available at xda.

http://www.google.com Norm10010100

the iphone doesn’t have it, so Samsung forgot to include that feature while ripping it off

Anonymous

as proven in the European courts right? oh wait…

Anonymous

I agree. NO LED is a crap app and isn’t the same (it drains your battery, too.) I have a Sensation (a testing freebie provided to me by T-Mo) and the biggest gripe I have is that you have to wake the phone to see what the notification is, a step backward in usability and function. My two-year old MyTouch 3G has addressable, multi-color LEDs (with CM 4.2x, a Donut ROM.)

I waited and waited for the Galaxy S2, but plan on waiting for the Nexus and ICS.

Jamell Kennedy

Not on the Sprint Version… it has it !!!… PreOrdered mine today

linuxgeek

Are there any dates when AT&T will have them available?

Anonymous

Three months too late for me and I don’t want a 4.5+ screen…

Anonymous

You would prefer a 3.5″ screen in a 5.5″ chassis?

Anonymous

Droid or NexusPrime should be better. Damn I need to see it and the iPhone 5 to make my decision!

Anonymous

WTF. Its not like these devices are a secret. If you’re going to put on this huge production to announce the devices, please, for the love of device junkies everywhere, just say when its coming out and give some pricing.

bighousefan

thank you, to keep re-releasing the same info is bullshit, give the people what they want, give us the dates and be done with it already! Damn!

http://twitter.com/_elemenopee_ Kavin Nguyen

No words on the resolution of the display? No NFC? These phones sound so meh. I bet most people would rather wait for the Prime.

Anonymous

Meh? These are the best phones available. The Exynos is no joke, and nothing so far compares to that screen. Sure, the Prime is going to be even better, but that hardly makes these phones meh.

RH

If it hadn’t taken the carriers in the USA to GET the S2, maybe it would sell more, but, with Verizon possibly getting the Prime, you would have to SERIOUSLY consider holding off for that one, which will probably be here just a couple months after the S2 actually is IN the stores.

http://twitter.com/computer_tweets KW

Yea, but it’s on Verizon. Ew.

Drew

The problem (if you want to call it that) with everybody taking a “meh” approach to these announcements is the fact that all of these phones are in some way different from the original European batch. That’s a little annoying. The second reason is, you’ve seen these phones for MONTHS everywhere else on the globe but here in the U.S. and at least 8 months from when they were first announced in January. We’re kinda tired of looking at them…

With that said, I like the T-Mo version (out of the 3) here because it seems to use up all of the real estate with SCREEN and not bezel. I’ve seen pics of the “Hercules” (T-Mo variant) and the battery cover is hideous. I’m hoping that was a bad photo or that they changed it. Seriously a deal breaker for me…

Anonymous

AT&T’s has a 4.3˝ screen. FYI

Anonymous

i wonder if the outer dimensions are the same, despite the fact that the ATT version has a 4.3″ screen. Do the others have less bezel? or are they just bigger?

http://twitter.com/computer_tweets KW

Sweet phone!

Anonymous

Mr. Geller,

All the Carriers have listed the processor on the Galaxy S-2 as the exynos EXCEPT AT&T. Its not named. Is this another screw the Customer Scheme by AT&T, its a Dual Core What? Usually when AT&T leaves off the most important part of the information, they have a good reason for doing so.

Can you get this CLARIFIED right away?

Thank you!

Chris

all the carrier have a dual-core exynos processor, tbh AT&T is good looking than the other 2 devices, is very similar to the european version minus the physical home button.

http://twitter.com/computer_tweets KW

For me, it’s between this and the iPhone5.

http://twitter.com/JoshuaPingley Joshua Pingley

So they have this big press release to announce a product that’s already been out for months? Okay that’s cool, but where the hell are the release dates and pricing for AT&T and T-Mobile? And I don’t know if Samsung knows this, but 4.52″ screen on a PHONE is too big. That’s pushing tablet territory.

Anonymous

FINALLY, a GREAT batch of Android phones. Too bad that THUS far Verizon is not among the carriers. T-Mobile will get my dollars, that is UNLESS Verizon releases a GREAT competitor before the T-Mobile device is released. Either way, so long Sprint and my Nexus S! SPRINT SUCKS BIG TIME AND A CRAP AND T IS JUST AS BAD!!!!!

Serious Sam

This thing is GORGEOUS and I wanted one until I noticed the 4.5″ screen…do phone makers realize that not everyone wants a huge screen? I have a Droid X right now and I think it’s a tad too big. This will be HUGE! Nice to watch movies on, but very big in the hand for phone calls…

dwinsmith

I wish they had left the screen at 4″. I really don’t want a phone as big as the Samsung Infuse, etc.